Republicans have been itching to bring Vilsack back to press him on inflation, President Joe Biden’s energy and vaccine policies, the high cost of agricultural inputs and the administration’s handling of agricultural trade, to name just a few issues.

The hearing is titled “Opportunities and Challenges Facing Farmers, Families and Rural Communities,” so they’ll have broad latitude to bounce around topics. (It’s set for Thursday at 10 a.m.)

Formula questions: Of course, Democrats and Republicans alike are likely to raise questions about the administration’s response to the infant formula situation, even as the Agriculture Department has largely escaped lawmakers’ ire. As we’ve reported, lawmakers have aimed their fury at FDA while praising what they’ve described as quick action from USDA.

That includes Vilsack giving flexibility to WIC recipients so they can buy any available formula — not just the brand associated with their state’s contract. The federal nutrition program purchases more than half of all formula in the country, so the shortage has been especially disruptive for low-income mothers and their babies who rely on WIC — and raised questions about how the state contract system helps a handful of major manufacturers dominate the formula market.

The House and Senate last week passed legislation that aims to ensure WIC recipients can still access formula during future shortages and recalls.

More formula moves: Vilsack also traveled to Indiana on Sunday to welcome a military plane carrying 132 pallets of Nestlé specialty formula, flown in from Germany as part of Biden’s recent actions to ease the shortage.